Paintings
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
Pursue Peace
2023
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
36 x 36 in

Strung together from the Psalms and Sefer HaMiddot (by Ukranian Hasidic master Reb Nachman of Breslov) these phrases are repeated over and over on the pages of an imagined “book of peace”. Bleeding through into the color fields of blue, the composition of color fields creates a sense of harmony and peace. When pulled down, the “murky waters” shade obscures the goal of peace: according to Sefer HaMiddot (Peace 7), “Murky waters are a sign that there is no peace.” Whether the shade is up or down, depends on the viewer’s moral account at any moment: if they, or the world, is in danger, the shade is down; if they, or the world, is pursuing peace, the shade is up. When the shade is lowered, however, is precisely when it must be raised, so that the viewer can meditate on the color and words of peace.

Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
The Contradictions of Peace
2023
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
36 x 48 in

Pages from Sefer HaMiddot (by Ukranian Hasidic master Reb Nachman of Breslov), reflect various Jewish wisdom statements on how to recognize or obtain peace. Here, Wortzman focuses on the paradox of having contradictory advice on how to obtain peace within the same text, reflecting the complexity of achieving peace and the conundrum of dichotomous paths. Reb Nachman states both that “Truth brings to peace” and “Anything that is done to foster peace does not fall into the category of” the legal requirement to “distance yourself from falsehood”. The clash of these paths is seen in the opposing forces of red and green that collide at the axis of the gestural “X”.
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
Pursue Peace!
2023
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
36 x 36 in

Using opposite colors as a means of expressing the dichotomy or divisiveness characteristic of a lack of peace, the middle ground becomes a “peace zone” by unifying (or mixing) the two opposite colors.
The words are transformed into a call to action, come from Psalm 34:15: “Seek peace, and pursue it.” Color theory shows how blue and orange, as opposite colors, intensify when placed along side each other, and this is used to amplify the message.
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic, oil pastel and rock on canva-papier
ProphecyE III
2023
Acrylic, oil pastel and rock on canva-papier
36 " x 86 "
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic , oil pastel and rock on canva-papier
ProphecyE IV
2023
Acrylic , oil pastel and rock on canva-papier
36 "x 84"
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings

Elyssa Wortzman Paintings

Elyssa Wortzman Paintings

Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic and graphite on linen
Fall Field
2013
Acrylic and graphite on linen
30 x 30
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic and graphite on canvas
Sound 2
2017
Acrylic and graphite on canvas
30 x 30
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic and pencil on canvas
Hover I
2015
Acrylic and pencil on canvas
24 x 24 in
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic on canvas
Hover II
2015
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 24 in
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic and graphite on canvas
Sound 1
2017
Acrylic and graphite on canvas
30 x 30 in
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic and graphite on canvas
Totem Sky I
2017
Acrylic and graphite on canvas
30 x 30 in
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic and graphite on canvas
Totem Sky
2017
Acrylic and graphite on canvas
30 x 30 in
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic and charcoal on canvas
Totem 2
2013
Acrylic and charcoal on canvas
36 x 36 in
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic, charcoal on canvas
Totem
2013
Acrylic, charcoal on canvas
36 x 36
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic on watercolor board
Blue Landscape: From the Car
2023
Acrylic on watercolor board
12 x 16 in
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic and graphite on canvas
Totem VII
2017
Acrylic and graphite on canvas
30 x 30 in
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic and graphite on canvas
Totem VI
2017
Acrylic and graphite on canvas
30 x 30 in
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic and graphite on canvas
Totem V
2017
Acrylic and graphite on canvas
30 x 30 in
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic on canvas
Song of the Sea
2013
Acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 in

A visual reading of the Biblical text of the crossing of the Reed Sea.
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic, charcoal, graphite, mirror on canvas
Angel Wings
2011
Acrylic, charcoal, graphite, mirror on canvas
30 x 30 in
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic and graphite on canvas
Falling
2013
Acrylic and graphite on canvas
6 x 6 x 3 in
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic, charcoal, graphite on canvas
Sacrifice
2012
Acrylic, charcoal, graphite on canvas
40 x 40 in
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic and ink on canvas
Yellow Glow
2012
Acrylic and ink on canvas
36 x 36
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic, charcoal on canvas
Bird Flight (Red Bird)
2011
Acrylic, charcoal on canvas
36 x 48 in
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic on canvas
Red Trees
2012
Acrylic on canvas
40 x 40 in
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic, charcoal on canvas
Form
2012
Acrylic, charcoal on canvas
40 x 40 in (top) 36 x 40 (bottom)
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic, charcoal, graphite on canvas
Amulet
2011
Acrylic, charcoal, graphite on canvas
20 x 60 in
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic and graphite on canvas
Gold Nugget
2013
Acrylic and graphite on canvas
20 x 20
Elyssa Wortzman Paintings Acrylic on canvas
Hudson Hills
2012
Acrylic on canvas
36 x 36 in